4 More Militants killed In Shopian, Toll 9 in 24-Hours Army

Police Term It ‘Clean operation’, Slain Buried In Baramulla

Umar Rashid

Srinagar, June 08:(GNS) Four militants were killed in a  gunfight with government forces in Pinjora area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday.
Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar (IPS) told GNS that four militants were killed in “clean and swift” operation. However, he said, the identity of the slain militants was yet to be ascertained.
“On a specific input generated by Shopian Police, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Shopian police, 44 RR and 14 Bn CRPF in Pinjoora area of District Shopian,” a police spokesman said.
During the search operation, he said, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party. “The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter.”
In the ensuing encounter, he said, four militants were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. “The identification and affiliation of the killed militants is being ascertained. However as per credible sources the killed militants belonged to (Hizb-ul-Mujahideen),” he said, adding, “All dead bodies of militants have been sent to Baramulla for their last rites.”
 Families of militants, if any, were requested to identify them at Baramulla and if identified, the families can associate in burial and last rites as per religious practices, he said.
“Just 24 hours before, five militants were killed in the Rebon Shopian area of the same district. Dead bodies of all the five militants have been identified by their families at the burial site and they participated in their last rites yesterday night.” meanwhile, lauding the role of the Police, CRPF and the army, General officer Commanding (GoC) 15 Corps Lt Gen B S Raju said the operation was conducted in a “smooth manner” with no collateral damage to civilian property.
Addressing a press conference at the Victor Force headquarters at Awantipora, Gen Raju said the operation was conducted smoothly because of the professionalism of all the agencies involved.
“The intelligence given by Jammu and Kashmir Police, solid crowd control done by the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and the appropriate tactics that were used by the forces on ground ensured that it was done in the most professional manner,” Gen Raju said. He said he was aware of the difficult circumstances under which the operation was conducted, which involved evacuating considerable number of civilians from the vicinity.
“I would credit the local population, which kind of facilitated the conduct of the operation in such a smooth manner.” (GNS)